The Heart of Hospice Podcast

• Before the Casket Provides Helpful Education for End of Life

  With honest information and gentle humor, the founders of Before the Casket are teaching us how to plan for more than just funeral arrangements. Hospice nurses Erin Putney and Amy Hensley have designed workshops that educate attendees about hard end of life decisions, empowering them and their decision-makers and making the whole experience easier. Before the Casket also provides education for healthcare professionals, offering content on end of life interventions and compassionate conversations. Nurses can even get CEUs for license renewal.  Amy and Erin provide education that includes demos of medical devices and relaxed interaction. It’s a great way to create realistic expectations for what care at the end of life looks like. You can connect with Before the Casket at beforethecasket.com Check out the courses offered for nurses and other healthcare workers here. You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com. Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com. Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com. Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook IG LinkedIn Twitter (X)  YouTube Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care. If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95. If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions. A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.   Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Social media: Facebook  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected] More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

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• An Authentic Conversation With End Well Founder Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider

  In this open and vulnerable interview, Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider talks about her caregiving experiences during her dad’s illness and death. Shoshana discovered early on that she wasn’t prepared for the complicated decision making that comes with serious illness caregiving, despite her medical training. Reflecting back at the experience, she talks openly about what she would have done differently. Difficult conversations about treatment, challenges with appetite and weight loss, and the genetic implications for Shoshana and her sister were all issues surrounding her father’s illness.   You can connect with End Well at endwellproject.org Listen to the Before We Go podcast here  Find more information about End Well 2025 here Find Shoshana on Instagram You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com. Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com. Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com. Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook IG LinkedIn Twitter (X)  YouTube Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95. If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions. A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care. Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.   Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Social media: Facebook  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected] More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to [email protected].

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• End of Life Options: The Powerful Story of Brittany Maynard

  End of life option advocate Dan Diaz is sharing the story of his wife Brittany Maynard and her pursuit  of a gentle death. Diagnosed at age 29 with a terminal brain tumor, Brittany chose to move 600 miles to a state that allowed for death with dignity, utilizing Medical Aid in Dying.  In this powerful interview, Dan describes the impact of her life and death on compassionate death choices and legislation.   Since Brittany’s death in 2014, Medical Aid in Dying laws have expanded to eleven states in the U.S.  Dan continues to tell their story, advocating for expansion of death with dignity laws to every state.  We continue to learn from her experience and fierce determination to ensure the kind of death she wanted.  Connect with Dan Diaz on Facebook Read more about Brittany Maynard at thebrittanyfund.org Find more information about Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) at compassionandchoices.org You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com. Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com. Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com. Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook   IG   LinkedIn   Twitter (X)    YouTube Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95.  If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care.  Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.   Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website:  theheartofhospice.com Social media:  Facebook     Twitter    Instagram   LinkedIn Email:  [email protected] More podcast episodes:  The Heart of Hospice Podcast Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to [email protected].

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• Back to Basics: What You Need to Know About Live Discharges

  Hospice nurse Beth Cavenaugh helps to clear up confusion around live discharges from hospice services.  Sometimes people on hospice care improve or stabilize, and no longer meet the criteria to receive care from the hospice agency.  The discharge process can be confusing, and it’s important to know the things that need to happen.  Here are a few highlights from this episode: Live discharges are initiated by the hospice agency when the patient no longer qualifies.Sometimes hospice patients improve because the care has become consistent, or their condition simply gets better.  Their disease process may stabilize. Hospice staff are required to give the patient and caregiver notice of the discharge according to state and federal requirements.Discharge planning should ALWAYS happen - the nurse handles the clinical items (medications, equipment, a new healthcare provider/team), and the social worker handles the psychosocial concerns (caregiving assistance, community resources and support). The patient or decision maker has the right to file an appeal if they don’t agree with the discharge from hospice services. The hospice agency is required to continue providing services until the decision about the appeal is received.  Here’s a link with information about hospice appeals:   What to Know About Hospice Appeals Connect with guest host hospice nurse Beth Cavenaugh at bethcavenaugh.com Buy Beth’s book Some Light at the End: Your Bedside Guide for Peaceful Palliative and Hospice Care Buy The Power and Pain of Nursing: Self-Care Practices to Protect and Replenish Compassion. You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com. Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com. Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com. Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook   IG   LinkedIn   Twitter (X)    YouTube Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help.  Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95.  If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions.  A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care.  Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.   Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website:  theheartofhospice.com Social media:  Facebook     Twitter    Instagram   LinkedIn Email:  [email protected] More podcast episodes:  The Heart of Hospice Podcast Book podcast host Helen Bauer to speak at your event or conference by sending an email to [email protected].

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• Alz Authors Bring Powerful, Personal Stories to the Printed Page

  Author and Alzheimer’s caregiver Marianne Scuicco shares her powerful story of caring for her mother and stepdad through dementia diagnosis and end of life. She describes the roller coaster of her caregiving journey, all the ups and downs that her family experienced. After her stepfather was diagnosed with mixed dementia and her mother declined, Marianne and her siblings had to find a balance to ensure they were well cared for. She’s able to say she has very few regrets about her time as a caregiver, feeling she gave her best to the caregiving job. As cohost of the Alz Authors podcast, Marianne continues to support other caregivers dealing with the same challenges.  Marianne Sciucco is a founder of AlzAuthors.com, the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience. It is the most comprehensive, single source in the world for dementia literature curated by former caregivers and authors. Marianne serves as board president, manager, and producer and co-host of their podcast, Untangling Alzheimer’s and Dementia. A registered nurse who cared for hundreds of individuals and families impacted by dementia, she is a former caregiver to her stepfather who had mixed dementia, and her mother who did not have dementia. She is the author of Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story.  Connect with Marianne Scuicco, author of Blue Hydrangeas and cohost of the Alz Authors Podcast: Website: mariannesciucco.com Website: alzauthors.com Podcast: alzauthors.co: /podcast Social Media for Marianne Scuicco: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky Threads  Purchase your copy of Blue Hydrangeas: A Alzheimer’s Love Story You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com. Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com. Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com. Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook IG LinkedIn Twitter (X)  YouTube Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95. If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions. A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care. Book your session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.   Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Social media: Facebook  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn

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